Music / Sofar Sounds
Ones to watch at this year’s Sofar Sounds
From its modest beginning in a living room in 2009 to now operating in over 400 cities, Sofar Sounds has grown exponentially.
Known for its secret gigs in unique locations, the Bristol-based community has held gigs at a range of venues including Clifton Observatory, Wake The Tiger and Bristol Old Vic.
Sofar Sounds recently announced a special December show at John Wesley’s New Room as well as an expansion into our neighbouring city Bath.
is needed now More than ever
With over 100 shows under its belt since 2022, Bristol24/7 asked Sofar Sounds who we should be keeping a close eye on.
Folk multi-instrumentalist and songwriter boci blends delicate and thought provoking lyricism with complex interweaving melodies through looping violin and guitar to create an astral dream-folk sound world.
Following the release of their debut album in 2022, boci has since been working on new pieces, showcasing a few at their sold-out show at Strange Brew earlier this year.
Their next release is a cover of Unison by Bjork produced by Bristol artist tlk in December, with remixes from the first album and a second album coming in 2024.
19-year-old Immy is the queer jazz-pop artist you never knew you needed. With sweet, melodic bass lines, their songs have a timeless, romantic quality.
They first graced a Sofar Stage with a performance on top of Clifton Observatory one chilly May evening and, since moving to Bristol a year ago, have played over 25 shows and collaborated with a wide range of artists and producers.
Their latest release Running Out shows an expansion in their musical range with jazz-pop meeting electronic dance music.
19 year old Immy first performed for Sofar Sounds at the atmospheric Clifton Observatory – photo: Molly Davies
Freddie Lewis, a rising trans artist from Bristol, has spent the past two years making a name for himself within the UK queer scene.
Drawing inspiration from jazz and electronic music, their sound is playful and uplifting, combining pop motifs and poetry while exploring interpersonal relationships and the nuance of existing as a queer man.
Their recent release More Than That explores what it means to be a whole, multifaceted flawed person rather than simply existing within people’s ideas of transness.
Singer and poet Freddie Lewis Freddie has gone on to release EPs, an album and curate an art exhibition – photo: Molly Davies
Since his debut single Growing Pains in 2021, Freddie has received widespread support from the LGBTQ+ community in the UK, as well as being featured on BBC Radio 1 and Radio 6 Music, Spotify’s ‘New Music Friday’, ‘Fresh Finds’ and ‘Our Generation’ playlists and earning a spot as a cover artist on Spotify’s ‘Transcend’ playlist for four months.
With many performances across the country, including renowned festivals like the Great Escape and Glastonbury, Freddie returns in 2023 with his second EP More Than That.
Pianist, vocalist, and songwriter Holly Wellington aka Holysseus Fly fluctuates from emotive minimalism to upbeat, glossy jazz-tinged pop, all underpinned by notions of hope and determination.
Their new release, Birthpool, acts as a tribute to her grieving process and subsequent creative rediscovery after recovering from breast cancer.
The songwriter is known independently and as part of Bristol band Ishmael Ensemble – photo: Molly Davies
The six-track EP features BBC 6 Music favourites Within The Water, Bloom, Bloom and Teach Me. Sofar Sounds recommends checking out the awe-inspiring video for Teach Me shot at the Mount Without in a single shot.
Aiysha is a poet, performer and workshop facilitator from Cornwall, living in Bristol.
They have performed all over the UK and last year worked in Romania with Tongue Fu exploring the relationship between music and spoken word.
They were the poet in residence for the SS Great Britain in 2022 and released their first poetry pamphlet, Saints of Golden Hour, in February which treads soberness, girlhood, queer relationships and the gods we create for ourselves.
They are currently working on a music project with their brother and hoping to release an album in the coming year.
Bristol-born Tianna is a neo-soul artist whose soulful vocals and sweet lyricism creates a warm atmosphere that mesmerizes audiences.
Influenced by the likes of Joy Crookes, Pip Millet and Greentea Peng, her six-piece band encompasses jazz and soul with warmth and energy.
From her first show performing at a Sofar Sounds in a living room in Redland in late 2022, Tianna’s popularity has grown, and she supported Hak Baker at SWX.
They recently released their debut EP, Morning Conversations, to positive reviews.
Molly Davies is the show experience lead at Sofar Sounds.
Main photo: Molly Davies
Read next:
- From eight people in a living room to Westminster Abbey, Sofar Sounds is exploring new heights
- Saffron Records’ Ones to Watch
- Meet the trans musician shattering gender stereotypes
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